By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.

April 6 Coronavirus Update: Lafayette County reports first case

Gov. Evers attempts but fails to postpone election "to help keep people healthy and safe"

Updated as of 5:45 p.m. April 6 to reflect the Wisconsin Supreme Court's decision on the April 7 election.

Lafayette County has reported its first case of COVID-19.

The person was infected through "community spread," Elizabeth Townsend, director of the county health department, wrote in an email April 6 to the Times. The individual is in quarantine.

Green County reports nine residents have tested positive for the infection caused by the new coronavirus, also as of April 6.

"It's very clear that the cases are spreading within our community" and not connected to foreign travel, said Mike Sanders, public information officer for the Green County Emergency Operations Center (EOC). "So we need people to continue to stay home and follow the governor's orders."

Public health officials are asking people to avoid social gatherings with people of all ages, including playdates and sleepovers, parties, large family dinners and having visitors or non-essential workers in the home; wash hands with soap and water frequently and thoroughly; clean high-touch surfaces regularly; avoid touching your face; don't shake hands; and stay home.

In recent days the Centers for Disease Control began recommending that people without symptoms, who may be sick and not yet know it, wear "cloth face coverings" in public to slow the spread of the coronavirus. A video on the CDC website shows U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams demonstrating how to make a simple mask out of a cut-up T-shirt and two rubber bands.

Gov. Tony Evers announced an executive order April 6 to postpone the April 7 election to June 9, to "help keep people healthy and safe," however the Supreme Court struck down the order within hours.

COVID-19 testing availability is still limited to priority cases like hospitalized patients and healthcare workers with symptoms, per federal guidelines. Sanders doesn't foresee that changing until capacity for testing improves, which he said could happen in the next week or so. As of April 6, 40 people in Lafayette County and 144 people in Green County have tested negative so far for COVID-19.

Statewide, 2,440 people have tested positive for COVID-19, with 27% hospitalized and 77 deaths reported from the disease. Dane County has 278 positive cases, while Rock County has 34.

Adults of all ages are testing positive for COVID-19, according to data collected by the Department of Health. Those in their 20s to 40s less likely to be hospitalized or die from the disease. The majority of deaths reported are in the 70-and-up age groups.

No COVID-19 cases have been reported in Green County nursing homes, Sanders said.

The county is still in "reasonable shape" for supply of personal protective equipment like masks and gloves, Sanders said.

"The main thing is still to do the stay at home and do the social distancing. ... The worst case scenario is everyone gets sick in a relatively short period of time," he said.

"We'll see how the next week to 10 days go. The numbers are creeping up in Wisconsin."